Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC)

1. The Office for Sponsored Programs and Research Activities (OSPRA) identifies a proposal involving recombinant DNA or a principal investigator (PI) contacts the Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) or Institutional Biosafety Officer (IBO) with an inquiry.
2. A Preliminary Review Form (PRF) and a copy of the Institutional Biosafety Committee Procedures is sent to the PI by the IBC-RDS Chair.
3. Upon receipt of the completed Preliminary Review Form, the IBC-RDS Chair or an IBC Member evaluates the Preliminary Review to determine the status of the project.
4. If exempt, the IBC-RDS Chair sends a letter of exemption status to the IBO and to the PI.
5. If not exempt (MUA or notification letter required).

Preliminary Review Results

1. The Preliminary Review results will be sent to the PI in the form of an official notice, with a copy to the IBO for file documentation, and a Memorandum of Understanding and Agreement (MUA) is requested from the PI.
2. The IBC-RDS will make copies of the MUA and distribute them to the IBC members, who will convene to review the MUA within four months of the Preliminary Review. (Note: The IBC-RDS meets on an Ad-hoc basis. Every effort will be made to finish the review within 30 days.)
3. If the IBC rules that modifications are necessary or special conditions must be met by the PI, the chairperson will notify the PI and the IBO in writing of the necessary conditions for IBC approval.
4. It is the desire of the IBC to aid the PI in obtaining IEC approval and expediting his or her research, but it is the PI’s responsibility to comply with the NIH guidelines. It is especially important to allow time (about one month) for the IBC to complete its study and approve facilities if any of the proposed experiments are not exempt.